The Humane State Program (HSP) provides training on disaster readiness, compassion fatigue, investigations and many other topics relevant to shelter, rescue and law enforcement

Laws and local policies

One of the best ways to help animals is to be involved in local and state advocacy. Voices from the front lines are often the most influential, so it is critical for those working in animal shelters, rescue groups, TNR programs and spay/neuter programs to be heard. Making time to testify at a hearing or to lobby officials can feel overwhelming when you know animals need you, but those activities can pay dividends by creating long term change in your community. Check out our resources and sign up for action alerts in your state and community, to ensure the decision makers hear from you.

Think legislation and other types of public policy aren't relevant to your lifesaving mission? Think again! When politicians take on issues like breed-specific legislation, hold times for cats, adoption regulations and access to veterinary care, your work may be directly affected, and not necessarily for the better.

I didn’t grow up interested in politics or the various debates over policy in the ‘90s. To the young me, that all sounded pretty boring and not all that relevant to my life. After all, there weren’t any laws or ordinances preventing school dances, science fairs or hanging out with friends, right?

Times have changed, and I now see the benefits of being engaged with politics. But that change didn’t happen overnight, and it didn’t happen simply because I learned the process of how policy changes happen. What changed was that I found a “why.”

Ohio law could trigger more reforms in the puppy mill industry

The puppy mill industry makes millions of dollars while forcing parent dogs to live in deplorable conditions, often producing puppies with serious health issues and deceiving customers about the pups’ origins. But advocates are fighting back, and a new law in Ohio could lead to additional reforms in the industry.

When a bad law was affecting good cats, New Hampshire animal advocates lobbied for change

In June, a 5-year-old gray tabby named Mr. Sassy quietly transitioned from a holding cage at the Monadnock Humane Society to a space on the adoption floor. Despite the lack of fanfare, for shelter staff and volunteers who had lobbied to give cats like him a chance, it was a momentous occasion—and a reminder that the work of saving lives doesn’t occur in a political vacuum.